Cliff —The final word on feeding the Weimaraner...
It is without a doubt the most perplexing thing to figure out how much to feed the puppy. One day, a ½ cup three times a day is enough, and then it is not. You need to adapt the serving size to suit the pup’s current needs. That being said, a pup that is growing by leaps and bounds can have a voracious appetite. Too large a serving can be just as bad as too small a serving. The package directions do not always help. I am willing to try to advise you, but sometimes it would be impossible because I cannot do an on-site evaluation. I believe most of the time you can do this yourself.
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For the first six months, it is especially important to divide the daily fare into three meals. You do not want to overload their gut. As an adult, I recommend you stick two meals a day. There should never be extreme exercise adjacent to their mealtime—within the same hour. The two meals and the avoiding of exercise near mealtime is to help prevent bloat. The Weimaraner is prone to this issue, as are all deep-chested dogs.
Putting your eye on the pup is the best way to gauge if you need to increase or decrease the serving size. You want to be sure they are getting enough that they are not getting skinny. It is fine if they appear lanky and somewhat thin looking, but they should never have their ribs or backbone visually apparent. Nevertheless, neither the backbone nor the ribs should be buried under a thick-layer of fat. |
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The optimal outcome is usually going to need at least three cups of food a day; however, certain pups may require as much as 4 cups. Keep in mind, I feed our adults between 3 and 4 cups of food (depending upon the Weim and the season), but they are not growing. The best approach is to measure out the entire day’s food allotment and divide it equally. Put down the first third in the morning, and if they don’t eat it all within ten minutes, pick it up—set it aside. Give the second third at lunch, and repeat the same scenario of picking up what is left.
We recommend sticking with the Diamond Naturals; but if you are planning to change foods, make the change gradual—over a two-week span. Purchase a small bag of the exact kibble we fed the pup. Start with a 1/3 (new) to 2/3 (original) ratio. Gradually increase the percentage of new food. The slower the transition, the easier it will be for the pup's tummy. You may find this a challenging process---it is common for a pup to like the new food, and to resist the old food. During a food change, your Weimaraner may experience a loose stool or even an outbreak of diarrhea. If they like the taste of canned pumpkin, adding a couple of spoons of pumpkin to their meals can naturally correct the stool consistency. It is also very healthy for your Weim. It is going to require at least three cups of food a day; certain pups may require as much as 4 cups. Keep in mind, I feed our adults between 3 and 4 cups of food (depending upon the Weim and the season), but they are not growing. The best approach is to measure out the entire day’s allotment and divide it equally. Put down the first third in the morning, and if they don’t eat it all within ten minutes, pick it up—set it aside. Give the second third at lunch, and repeat the same scenario of picking up what is left.
We recommend sticking with the Diamond Naturals; but if you are planning to change foods, make the change gradual—over a two-week span. Purchase a small bag of the exact kibble we fed the pup. Start with a 1/3 (new) to 2/3 (original) ratio. Gradually increase the percentage of new food. The slower the transition, the easier it will be for the pup's tummy. You may find this a challenging process---it is common for a pup to like the new food, and to resist the old food. During a food change, your Weimaraner may experience a loose stool or even an outbreak of diarrhea. If they like the taste of canned pumpkin, adding a couple of spoons of pumpkin to their meals can naturally correct the stool consistency. It is also very healthy for your Weim. It is going to require at least three cups of food a day; certain pups may require as much as 4 cups. Keep in mind, I feed our adults between 3 and 4 cups of food (depending upon the Weim and the season), but they are not growing. The best approach is to measure out the entire day’s allotment and divide it equally. Put down the first third in the morning, and if they don’t eat it all within ten minutes, pick it up—set it aside. Give the second third at lunch, and repeat the same scenario of picking up what is left.
Note: You will also find this inside your puppy portfolio.
